Wine remains the most popular alcoholic drink in the Republic of Moldova, including among women, being followed by beer. In rural areas, they drink primarily wine, while in urban areas mostly strong alcoholic drinks. In most of the cases, beer is drunk by young people aged between 15 and 19. In Moldova, one in four deaths (26.1%) is associated with alcohol abuse, shows a press release issued by the National Public Health Agency.
The figures were quoted by specialists of the National Public Health Agency in a meeting with the president of the SAF (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome) Association Denis Lamblin held at the Embassy of France in Chisinau on October 21, IPN reports.
Alcohol consumption is one of the major socioeconomic and public health problems and is among the top five risk factors of noncommunicable diseases. Specialists warn that the risks are greater the more one drinks.
Moldova is among the world leaders by the volume of consumed alcohol per capita, even if the quantity has diminished the past few years from 15.2 liters of pure alcohol per person aged 15 and up in 2016 to 12.9 liters in 2019. According to the Global Health Observatory of the World Health Organization, pure alcohol consumption among men is 20.6 liters per capita, while among women – 5.9 liters.
Drinking alcohol while pregnant has been shown to cause harm to a baby as it develops in the womb. Drinking alcohol increases the risk of miscarriage, premature birth and the baby having a low birth weight. Alcohol used during pregnancy may also lead to long-term medical problems and birth defects, including Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder’s (FASDs).
FASDs are 100% preventable. The only sure way to prevent FASDs is to completely avoid alcohol use while pregnant. Because damage from prenatal alcohol exposure can occur even during the earliest weeks of pregnancy often before a woman realizes she's pregnant, women who are trying to get pregnant or who could get pregnant also should avoid alcohol. There is no amount of alcohol during pregnancy that is risk-free. There is no kind of alcohol during pregnancy that is risk-free. There is no time during pregnancy when alcohol consumption is risk-free.
